Washboard.



E. L. FEESE.

WASHBOARD.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 11, 1914.

Patented Feb.29,1916.

ELMER I). FEESE, OF PLEVNA, KANSAS.

wasnnoasn.

.To all whom it mag/concern:

Be it'known that I, ELMER' L. Fnnsn, a citizen of theUnited States, residing at Further objects of the invention are to simplify and improve the general construction of the washboard. r

- With these and other ends in view which will readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the-improved construction and novel arrangement and combination of parts which will be hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawing has been illustrated a simple and preferred form of he invention, it being, however, understood that no' limitation is necessarily made'to the precise structural details therein ex hibited, but that changes, alterations and modifications within the scope of the claim may be resorted to when desired.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a. front view of a washboard constructed in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 in Fig. 1.' Fig. 3 is a side view. Fig. 41 is a sectional' detail view taken on the line 44 in Fig. 1.

Corresponding parts in the several figures are denoted by like characters of reference- The frame of the improved washboard comprises the side members 15, the cross bar or bottom brace 16, the cap piece 17 and the back 18, the latter being secured on the side members 15 near the upper ends of the latter. The portions of the side members that extend below the cross bar 16 constitute the legs of the washboard, and said legs are provided with slidable extension members, each consisting of a bar 19 having aslot 20. Each extension member is guided for slidable movement in a keeper 21 on the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 29, 1916.

side member of the frame. Each side member is provided near its lower end with a rock shaft 22 having at one end a handle 23, whereby it may be oscillated and at the other end a T-head 24- operating in the slot 20 of the extension member and so proportioned that when positioned at right angles to the slot, it will frictionally engage the side walls thereof and thus serve to maintain the extension member in adjusted position.

' The side members 15 are connected together approximately in the plane of the lower edge of the back 18 by a cross bar 25, the latter being well spaced from the lower end portion of the back member- Supported for rotation directly below the cross bar 25 lid or cover for the soap compartment, which latter is included between the side members, the cross bar 28 and the lower-portion-of the back member 18 and the portion of the roller 26 which extends beneath the open space between the cross bar 25 and the back member 18. The cover member 31 is transversely corrugatedso that when in obstructing posi tion with respect to the soap compartment,

it'will constitute a portion of the rubbing surface of the washboard. One or more bars of soap may be placed in the compartment just referred to, and a loose weight member 32 may be provided to assist in feeding the soap in the direction of the roller. The space above the cross bar 28 may be utilized for bars of soap held in reserve. Itv will be seen that the roller 26 has a substantially smooth surface which is merely provided with spirally disposed grooves or depressions adapted to be filled with soap to be transferred to the clothes that are to be washed. The movable cover member 31, which slides vertically in the direction of the roller and the lower edge'of which contacts with the roller'when the cover member is in obstructing position will, therefore, not interfere their inner faces with cleats 33 between the roller 27 and the cross bar 16 to support the customary corrugated face plate 84 which may be made of zinc or other material. This face plate taken in connection with the corrugated cover member 31 forms an extended rubbing surface, a portion of which is positioned belowthe corrugated roller, while another portion thereof is located abovesaid roller, which latter supplies soap to garments that are passed over the same in either direction, upwardly or downwardly. Cleats 35 are secured on the rear side of the washboard, said cleats being spaced from the rear faces of the uprights or side members 15 by the back member 18 at their upper ends and at their lower ends by spacing strips or members 36. These cleats serve as guards for the corrugated roller 26 to prevent any possibility of said roller contacting with the tub or with other obstructions which would I 'by frictional engagement therewith prevent j raised or elevated to a convenient position it from rotating freely when in operation.

They do not, however, completely cover the roller in such a manner as to prevent water having access to the rear as well as the front portion of said roller, which is obviously desirable in order that the best results may be attained.

a From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings hereto anneXed, the operation and advantages of this invention will be readily understood. The

leg extension members will enable the board i to be utilized in a deep tub when it'may be Copies of this patent may be obtainedfor fivecents each, by addressing angle between thebottom of the tub and the wall'portion thereof. By rubbing the gar ments over the roller, the latter will'berotated, and by engagement with the soap the grooves of said roller will become more or less filled with soap which will thus be conveyed into engagement w'ith'fthe garments. To regulate the use and to-avoid waste'of 'soap,-the operator, by pressing the 'slidable cover member 30 downwardly against the circumference of the roller, may partly obstruct orentirely prevent the rotation of said roller, the member 30 acting as a brake bv the lower edge thereof contacting with the surface of the roller.

W Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new. is

In a washboard, a frame having side members, a top 'member and a back member, a roller supported for rotation closely adjacent to the lower edge of the back member, a corruga'te'dplate secured with its upper edge in proximity to the lower forward portion of the roller, said plate constituting a'stationary rubbing surface, cleats secured on the inner faces of eachof the side members above 7 the roller, and a corrugated cover member constituting a rubbing surface guided slidably by the cleats and normally contacting a with the upper forward portion of the roller, said side members, back member .and cover member combining with the roller to constitute a soap receptaclefand said roller being provided with spirally disposed soa receivin rooves or indentations in the a surface thereof. y

. JELMER FEESE.

Witnesses:

'ELSIE FEEsE, Manors MoRnvnr.

Washington, 1 c.

the comm issioner of lateizts, 1; 

